Biological Treatments of Schizophrenia - Drug Therapy

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DRUG THERAPIES

These are the most common types of treatment of schizophrenia. They involve antipsychotics drugs.
ANTIPSYCHOTICS

Antipsychotics are drugs used to reduce the intensity of symptoms of schizophrenic patients, in particular, the positive symptoms (hallucinations and delusions)
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DIFFERENT FOR DIFFERENT PATIENTS

Some patients may take these drugs in a short course without their symptoms returning. While others may have to take them for life.
TYPES OF ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUGS

Typical Antipsychotics - 1st generation
Atypical Antipsychotics - 2nd generation
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TYPICAL ANTIPSYCHOTICS

These are the first generation of antipsychotics which have been developed in the 1950s.
Typical Antipsychotics work as dopamine antagonists, examples include Chlorpromazine.
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Typical Antipsychotics work as antagonists in the dopamine system, which bind into D2 receptors. They reduce the action of neurotransmitters, by blocking the synapses of the brain.
According to the dopamine hypothesis, these dopamine antagonists normalise the neurotransmissions and reduce positive symptoms of schizophrenia - such as hallucinations.
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EVALUATION - evidence for the effectiveness

Thornely et al. (2003)
Thornley et al.'s (2003) findings, from three trials, showed that when typical antipsychotics were given to patients the replace rates were lower when Chlorpromazine was taken. These results were not present for the control group.
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EVALUATION - side effects
Typical antipsychotics can be associated with the following side effects; dizziness, sleepiness, agitation and weights gain. Some of the more serious side effects include high temperature, delirium, coma and can even be fatal.
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ATYPICAL ANTIPSYCHOTICS

Second-generation drugs developed in the 70s. These aim to improve upon the effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs and minimise the side effects.
Examples of atypical antipsychotics include:

Clozapine and Risperidone
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CLOZAPINE

Binds into D2 receptors, but also acts on serotonin and glutamine receptors. they can help improve mood and reduce depression and anxiety in patients, improving their cognitive functioning.
RISPERIDONE

Binds into D2 dopamine and serotonin receptors. This type of atypical antipsychotic binds more strongly with dopamine receptors that Clozapine, therefore it is more effective in smaller doses.
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EVALUATION - evidence for the effectiveness

Herbert Meltzer (2012)
Meltzer concluded that Clozapine is more effective than other typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs. His findings showed that they are 30-50% more effective in schizophrenic patients.
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EVIDENCE - side effects
Atypical antipsychotics have been developed to reduce the frequency of side effects and there has been a general success in this. However, patients on this type of antipsychotic medication need to have regular blood tests to alert their doctors of early s
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

DIFFERENT FOR DIFFERENT PATIENTS

Some patients may take these drugs in a short course without their symptoms returning. While others may have to take them for life.

Back

TYPES OF ANTIPSYCHOTIC DRUGS

Typical Antipsychotics - 1st generation
Atypical Antipsychotics - 2nd generation

Card 3

Front

TYPICAL ANTIPSYCHOTICS

These are the first generation of antipsychotics which have been developed in the 1950s.

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Typical Antipsychotics work as antagonists in the dopamine system, which bind into D2 receptors. They reduce the action of neurotransmitters, by blocking the synapses of the brain.

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

EVALUATION - evidence for the effectiveness

Thornely et al. (2003)

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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